Perfect start for Niagara JUEL and JUEL prep
The Niagara JUEL girls basketball team opened its regular season in fine fashion, recording a pair of wins this past weekend.
Niagara defeated the YNBA Avengers 77-60 and the St. Lawrence Lightning 76-70.
In the victory over the Avengers, Niagara built quarter leads of 21-13, 41-22 and 67-41 on the way to the win.
Top performers for Niagara were: Blessed Trinity’s Lita Sutor with 16 points and five boards; Eden’s Kate DeVries with 13 points; Governor Simcoe’s Keira Teske with 11 points; A.N. Myer’s Emma Vendittelli with 10 points and six boards; Lakeshore Catholic’s Shania Hintenberger with eight points; and, Notre Dame’s Ava Briggs with seven points.
“We had some really good moments in the first game but just lost some focus in parts of the game, especially in the second half,” Niagara head coach Si Khounviseth said. “I did not like their compete and attention to detail.”
Niagara trailed by six points with 58 seconds left in regulation against St. Lawrence before rallying to record the win in overtime.
Leading the way for Niagara against St. Lawrence were: West Niagara’s Reese Bolibruck with 21 points and five rebounds; Sutor with 12 points and five boards; Saltfleet’s Alena Tepsic with 11 points and five rebounds; Vendittelli with eight points; and, Teske with seven points.
“Our focus and execution was much better in the second game against a very scrappy and disciplined team. We controlled play for most of the game and struggled for middle parts of the fourth quarter,” Khounviseth said. “We managed to tie the game up and win it in overtime. We are still figuring out our players, our rotations and our systems. Defensively, I thought we played with intensity and just need to be more disciplined. Getting two wins to start the year was our goal. We will continue to work and get better.”
JUEL PREP
The Niagara JUEL Prep squad was also perfect to start the season, defeating the YNBA Avengers 93-30 and St. Lawrence 63-55.
“The girls are clicking well together and working hard. For the St. Lawrence game, the team stayed consistent in the game despite peaks and valleys,” Niagara head coach Chris Moscato said. “Their perseverance allowed them to bring home the W.”
In knocking off the Avengers, Niagara built quarter leads of 25-8, 47-17 and 69-21.
Leading the way against YNBA were: A.N. Myer’s Ava Walker with 16 points; Centennial’s Lila Rodrique with 11 points and four rebounds; Blessed Trinity’s Jaylen Stienstra with 10 points and five boards; Bishop Tonnos’ Rylan White with nine points and five rebounds; Notre Dame’s Camilla Moscato with eight points and nine rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass; Port Colborne’s Kate Kolbinson with seven points and six rebounds; and, Assumption College’s Kate Ferras with seven points and five rebounds.
Against St. Lawrence, Niagara trailed 19-14 after one quarter and 29-28 at the half before outscoring the Lightning 35-26 in the second half to record the victory.
Top Niagara performers versus St. Lawrence were: Walker with 15 points and six rebounds; Kolbinson with 11 points and five boards; Moscato with 10 points; Smithville Christian’s Talia Hultink with eight points; and, Rodrique with six points.
